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The average salary in Major League Baseball was just under $3 million for the 2009 season, based on an annual report released by the MLB Players Association. The league average of $2,996,106 for 926 players was an increase of 1.37 percent from 2008 average of $2,925,675, the smallest increase in average salary since 2004 when MLB saw the average salary decline from the year prior.

Leading the way was the New York Yankees with an average salary of $7,663,351 for 28 players. That was an increase of 11.66 percent from 2008 when the Bronx Bombers had an average salary of $6,862,918. The Yankees average salary was $3,032,658 higher than the second highest average salary held by the Chicago Cubs who’s average salary was $4,630,693 for 29 players. The Yankees have topped the highest average salary ranking for the past 11 seasons.

The largest percentage of increase from 2008 to 2009 for average salary came by way of the Florida Marlins who increased their average from $868,261 in 2008 to $1,327,968 for 31 players in 2009, an increase of 52.95 percent.

The largest drop in average salary for 2009 goes to the San Diego Padres, who saw their average salary drop below $1 million ($959,165) or a decrease in average salary from $1,720,590 in 2008, or a decrease of 44.25 percent.

Pittsburgh had the lowest average salary in 2009 of $790,167 for 31 players.

Six teams among the top eight by average salary made the postseason, joined by Colorado (15th at $2.93 million) and Minnesota (17th at $2.66 million). The Rockies and Twins were both eliminated in the first round.

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Among regulars at positions, first basemen took over with the highest average at $7.39 million, passing designated hitters ($7.34 million). Third basemen were next at $6.46 million, followed by starting pitchers ($4.66 million), outfielders ($4.58 million), shortstops ($4.44 million), second basemen ($4.32 million), catchers ($4.07 million) and relief pitchers ($1.78 million).

Average salary is based on total salary divided by the number of players on the roster at the end of the season. The Associated Press, using different calculating methods reported that the increase in average salary for the league was 2.4 percent compared to The Biz of Baseball’s accounting of 1.37 percent. The MLBPA calculations will be slightly different than MLB’s based on different accounting methods. Those figures should be released in the next few weeks (normally the week before Christmas).

Other points of interest from the report:

Call it the A-Rod Factor – The AL Mean for third basemen was more than double what the NL Mean was. The AL had an average of $9,230,865 for 11 players compared to an average of $4,118,967 for 13 players.

The DH – The Designated Hitter (with 80 or more games) accounted for an average of $7,336,833 for 12 players.

Give Me Some Relief – The NL had 110 relievers compared to 84 for the AL (10 or less starts; 25 or more relief appearances). The NL had an average of $1,601,673 for relievers compared to $2,018,336 for the AL in 2009.

Youth Is King – Out of the 926 players in the league last year, 249 had Major League service time of less than 1 year and 101 players with service time of 1-2 years. There were 17 players with 15 years or more service time.

Where the Money’s At – The “sweet spot” for ML service time is between 14 and 15 years of service time. Those 8 players had a Mean of $8,082,883

Money, Money, Money – In 1967, the average salary, as calculated by the MLBPA was $190,000. When accounting for inflation, that would be equal to $121,227 today. With a 2009 average salary of $2,996,106 and using the the average salary in 1967, when accounting for inflation, the average salary has risen 2346.74%

Select Read More to see the Minimum, and Average Salary as well as the Average Salary for each of the 30 Clubs in MLB last season compared to the same figures for 2008.

AVERAGE SALARY (by Club - 2009 and 2008 compiled by MLBPA)

Club

Rank '08

# players ('09)

2009

% (+/-)

2008

N.Y. Yankees

1

28

$7,663,351

11.66%

$6,862,918

Chicago Cubs

2

29

$4,630,693

-0.97%

$4,675,883

Boston

6

29

$4,581,533

9.16%

$4,196,967

Detroit

7

30

$4,434,909

6.89%

$4,148,959

St. Louis

12

28

$4,416,937

32.15%

$3,342,380

LA Dodgers

5

35

$4,334,635

-0.84%

$4,371,154

LA Angeles

3

28

$4,223,942

-7.38%

$4,560,457

Philadelphia

11

31

$4,055,455

19.49%

$3,393,916

NY Mets

8

38

$3,764,567

-3.87%

$3,916,288

Atlanta

16

28

$3,680,180

36.65%

$2,693,161

Houston

9

30

$3,464,718

-4.04%

$3,610,588

Chicago W. Sox

4

28

$3,458,400

-23.18%

$4,501,832

Seattle

13

32

$3,377,771

3.27%

$3,270,666

Milwaukee

10

30

$2,937,499

-17.55%

$3,562,592

Colorado

17

32

$2,926,721

14.59%

$2,554,035

San Francisco

18

32

$2,899,400

21.11%

$2,393,955

Minnesota

21

30

$2,664,878

37.73%

$1,934,886

Kansas City

23

30

$2,621,263

43.99%

$1,820,423

Texas

20

33

$2,402,506

20.64%

$1,991,413

Tampa Bay

27

28

$2,297,365

44.04%

$1,594,997

Arizona

14

30

$2,168,853

-28.07%

$3,015,390

Cincinnati

24

36

$2,153,075

23.13%

$1,748,586

Cleveland

22

28

$2,007,420

5.33%

$1,905,804

Toronto

15

31

$1,825,987

-35.47%

$2,829,826

Washington

28

33

$1,685,950

24.95%

$1,349,305

Baltimore

19

31

$1,684,182

-15.61%

$1,995,760

Oakland

25

32

$1,469,254

-15.60%

$1,740,764

Florida

30

31

$1,327,968

52.95%

$868,261

San Diego

26

34

$959,165

-44.25%

$1,720,590

Pittsburgh

29

31

$790,167

-34.21%

$1,201,117

Average baseball salary as compiled by the MLBPA and the minimum salary

Year

Minimum

Average

Notes

1967

$6,000

$19,000

1968 (A)

10,000

NA

1969

10,000

24,909

1970

12,000

29,303

1971

12,750

31,543

1972

13,500

34,092

1973

15,000

36,566

1974

15,000

40,839

1975

16,000

44,676

1976

19,000

51,501

1977

19,000

76,066

1978

21,000

99,876

1979

21,000

113,558

(B)

1980

30,000

143,756

(B)

1981

32,500

185,651

(B)

1982

33,500

241,497

(B)

1983

35,000

289,194

(B)

1984

40,000

329,408

(B)

1985

60,000

371,571

(B)

1986

60,000

412,520

(B)

1987

62,500

412,454

(C)

1988

62,500

438,729

(C)

1989

68,000

497,254

(C)

1990

100,000

597,537

(C)

1991

100,000

851,492

(C)

1992

109,000

1,028,667

(C)

1993

109,000

1,076,089

(C)

1994

109,000

1,168,263

(C)

1995

109,000

1,110,766

(C)

1996

109,000 (D)

1,119,981

(C)

1997

150,000

1,336,609

(C)

1998

170,000

1,398,831

(C)

1999

200,000

1,611,166

(C)

2000

200,000

1,895,630

(C)

2001

200,000

2,138,896

(E)

2002

200,000

2,295,649

(E)

2003

300,000

2,372,189

(E)

2004

300,000

2,313,535

(E)

2005

316,000

2,476,589

(E)

2006

327,000

2,699,292

(E)

2007

380,000

2,824,751

(E)

2008

390,000

2,925,679

(E)

2009

400,000

2,996,106

(E)

2010

400,000

(A) First Basic Agreement between Clubs and Players Association

(B) Salary figures have been discounted for salary deferrals without interest, at a rate of 9% for a period of delayed or advanced payment

(C) Salary figures discounted for deferrals without interest or buyouts, and signing bonuses increased at 9% for a period of delayed or advanced payment

(D) $150,000 in the last 1/3 of the 1996 season

(E) The interest rate for deferrals with or without interest, buyouts and signing bonuses set at a rate described in Article XV(K) of the Basic Agreement for the period of delayed or advanced payment (NOTE: Starting in 2001, salary deferrals, buyouts and bonuses have been increased or discounted to the prime rate in effect on the Nov. 1 following the season plus 1 percent)